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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This is the 3rd book in the series. I have read the first book, Daughter of Smoke & Bone and I loved it. I have not read the second book but will when this book is released. I also love the cover.

Expected Publication Date: June 3, 2014

Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads)

By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz ... something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

Synopsis:(Taken from Goodreads)How do you move on when he’s every song you sing?

After Laurelyn Prescott walks away from the love of her life, she returns to Nashville to pursue the only dream she has left. Determined to find a distraction from the pain of losing Jack Henry, she immerses herself in her music. But with her old life comes old acquaintances and new expectations. When Laurelyn refuses her record producer’s outrageous demands, she finds herself without a career—until an unforeseen opportunity presents itself. From there it’s a rocket ride straight to the top where Laurelyn finds the success she’s always dreamed of. Will it be enough to bring her the happiness she so deserves, or will the absence of Jack Henry leave her wanting more?

Jack Henry McLachlan never expected to fall in love with Laurelyn Prescott—but he did. After he foolishly let her slip through his fingers, he spends three months searching for her, but their reunion doesn’t come easy. The woman he finds isn’t the same one who drifted away without a goodbye. No longer an insecure girl on an Australian adventure, this Laurelyn is a successful musician with a promising career. Her dreams are becoming a reality, and Jack is terrified his American girl won’t have a place for him in her new life. With only a month to convince her otherwise, will it be enough time to make her visualize a life beyond the glitz and glamour, a life that includes him?

My Thoughts:

Beauty from Surrender takes place 1 week
after Laurelyn leaves Australia
without saying goodbye. Jack Henry is heart broken because he realizes he loves
her and didn’t get a chance to tell her. Laurelyn misses Jack Henry so much she
begins to become depressed. As Jack Henry beings his search for the love of his
life, Laurelyn gets a chance to make it big in the country music industry.
Laurelyn must decide what she wants; a life pursuing her dreams or spending her
life with Jack Henry.

I could not her enough of Laurelyn and Jack
Henry. They are so cute together. I love Jack Henry in this book although I did
find him to be a little too sappy at times. I don’t remember him being even
remotely sappy in Beauty from Pain (book #1). At the same time, I really liked
the fact that one woman can change Jack Henry’s views. Previously, he was
against marriage and having kids but since he met Laurelyn, he wants those
things with her.

I absolutely loved Jack Henry’s mom. She is
hilarious in this book. I found myself laughing out loud a lot when she was
around. My favourite quote actually includes Jack Henry, Laurelyn and his mom:

“I know and if it does, it just does. By the
way, you should know now that I’m not using rubbers on our honeymoon. Forget
it. It’s not happening.” There. She has
her warning.

“I know. I have some other stuff, but it’s
useless if you don’t give me a chance to put it in.”

“Next time, babe. We won’t be in a rush.” We’re trying to beat the Margaret alarm.

“Next time, I’ll be your wife.” Wow. I hadn’t thought of that.

There’s a pounding at the bedroom door,
followed by my mum’s voice. “I know you’re in there, you little shit, and I’m
giving you two minutes to shut it down, get dressed, and get out of there.”

We look at each other in the mirror and
laugh as we simultaneously say, “Busted.”

I loved how Jack Henry supported Laurelyn
and allowed her to experience life on tour before she went back to him. He
didn’t hold her back; he supported her in her dreams even though they may be apart
for awhile. He knew Laurelyn would come back to him eventually.

2014 really can’t come fast enough, that is
when the 3rd book in the series will be out. I am so excited for it.

Knowing who you are and accepting who you are come at different prices.

Jase Kinrick grew up in your typical, all-American household. But after the death of his sister, his parents shut down, forcing him to deal with everything life throws his way alone. Terrified of the person he’s discovering himself to be, Jase has his way with every willing girl to try and rid himself of what he fears he is—gay.

Escaping California and moving to Seattle to attend the University of Washington, Jase frees himself to the reality that he likes men. Never staying with any guy long enough to get to know them, he doesn’t realize that he’s still hiding from who he is until he meets Mark. Scared of having real feelings for another guy stirs up the questions and fears he’s fought hard to bury.

To strip away the barriers to the heart of what is real, and to be okay with what lies underneath, will be Jase’s moment of truth. But he’ll need Mark to lead him there.

This is my first m/m romance I have read and I must say it was great. In Fading, we meet Jase, Candace’s best friend; they are more than friends, they are family. Their own families have disowned them so they only had each other for the longest time. Freeing is in Jase’s POV and overlaps the events in Fading. We see Jase going through his own struggle and journey on accepting himself for who he is.

Jase grew up in California and moved to Seattle because he wanted to escape his home life. He knew he was gay in high school even though he slept with a lot of girls; he couldn’t admit it to himself and thought something was wrong with him. After his sister’s death, his parents shut down, so he didn’t have anyone he could talk to. In Seattle, Jase is still at war with himself because he admits to himself that he is gay but afraid of what people might think. It is only when he meets Candace that he can tell someone who he truly is. Even then, he is still not completely comfortable with it. He has hookups with men but never a real relationship. It is not until he meets Mark that everything changes for him.

I love how E.K. Blair writes about taboo subjects but make it bearable and not so taboo for the reader. With Fading, I was bawling my eyes in the aftermath of Candace getting raped and in Freeing, reading Jase prospective on things I think I cried even harder. The emotion the author puts behind every word is magnificent and a real talent. Not many writers can do that. I was awed when I first read Fading and I am still in awe because Ms. Blair makes you care about things or situations where you might not have cared before. While reading I put myself in Jase’s shoes, through finding out about the rape of his friend/family member, I would be angry as well if that happened to one of my close friends. I think it is a very hard situation, being supportive for your friend/family member and also knowing who did it and not being able to do anything about it.

I think that Mark is exactly what Jase needed to start accepting himself for who he is. I really liked Mark. I think it was awesome how he stepped in and helped take care of Candace. It shows the kind of person he is.

I think many people would be surprised by how the author writes this m/m romance. She will have you caring about the characters no matter your opinion on the subject. For me, this is 2 for 2 for E.K. Blair’s books; I am excited about what she writes in the future. I will gladly read it!

My Rating:

5 out of 5 stars

Excerpt:

Everything tunnels: my hearing, my vision. My heart thuds. Hard. I drop my head in my hands, and the tears just spill out. Allie continues to talk, but I’ve already heard all my soul can handle at this point. This girl is my fuckin’ heart, and I’m terrified to see what’s left of it.

I turn to look at the nurse when she hands me a tissue, but I don’t reach out to take it. I just look at her with no words.

“I’m so sorry. You can utilize this room for as long as you need, but it’s not going to be good for her to see you so upset. You need to be strong for her right now.”

I nod my head. She’s right. I’ve got to pull my shit together. I finally take the tissue from her hand. I could sit here and cry for the rest of my life if I allowed myself, but I need to see her. So that’s what I tell the nurse. “I need to see her.”

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This books sounds very intriguing. I have not read anything by Sophie Jordan yet but I'm sure this book will be good. I also love the cover.

Expected Publication Date: January 28, 2014

Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads)

The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan's chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she's destined to become a murderer.

When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

The first in a two-book series, Uninvited tackles intriguing questions about free will, identity, and human nature. Steeped in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's trademark mix of gripping action and breathless romance, this suspenseful tale is perfect for fans of James Patterson, Michelle Hodkin, and Lisa McMann.

Throw in an estranged mom, annoying new stepdad, and drooling baby half-brother, and it’s a disaster even her favorite cherry red leather jacket can’t fix. Even worse, there’s (hot) live-in research assistant Josh to contend with. The only thing more embarrassing than drunk-kissing him hours after they meet? Knowing he’ll be witness to her family’s dysfunction all. summer. long.

But when Emma meets a mysterious girl who happens to be a Druid, her vacation suddenly promises to be far more intriguing than she anticipated. Powerful rituals, new friends, an intoxicating sense of freedom...and Simon, the sexy foreign stranger she was hoping for. It’s all a perfect distraction from dirty diapers and awkward family dinners.

Trouble is, intriguing doesn’t often mean simple. And Emma is about to discover just how not simple her life really is.

By Blood is a novel about the ways that blood can bind us to others – or tear us apart.

Tracy E. Banghart is a cheesy movie–loving, fantasy football–playing (go Ravens!), globe-trotting Army wife who began “practicing” her craft at the age of five, when she wrote her first story. She loves visiting the international friends she met while pursuing her MA in Publishing and spends a portion of every summer at her family’s cabin in Canada, where she finds inspiration and lots of time to relax on the dock. She lives with her husband, son, two lazy dogs and one ornery cat. When not writing or spending time with her family, she is on a mission to bake the perfect cupcake.

Emma's character first appeared as
a supporting player in Moon Child, and as soon as she appeared, I just knew she
needed her own story. She's feisty, dramatic, tough…but also really vulnerable.
At the time, I was also feeling homesick for England (I went to grad school
there) so I thought - wham! How about I ship Emma off to Oxford with her
estranged Mom? Bet that'd be fun! ;-)

2.What
books have influenced your life most?

The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley;
On Fortune's Wheel, by Cynthia Voigt. For Writers Only, by Sophie Burham. Also,
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. As a young adult, I read A LOT…and
frequently re-read my favorites. I think that's one reason I prefer to write
young adult…I remember those books having such an impact on me. It might sound
weird, but I think I figured out the kind of person I wanted to be through the
strong, adventurous heroines of my favorite books, like those of Robin McKinley
and Cynthia Voigt.

3.What
was the hardest part of writing this book?

Because I couldn't travel to
England while I was writing, I had to rely on my memories, as well as Google
Maps! Sometimes that would sap my writing momentum a little, trying to get all
the geographical details right.

4. If
you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be? Why?

Ooh…interesting question. I'd say
probably the second line of the book. Emma has a thought about trying to keep
her little brother quiet…it's a sentence I wrote a number of years ago now,
before I had my son (who's 10 months, about the age of Fermin)…and now that I
AM a mom, it seems so violent! I wondered if I should change it, but I
ultimately decided not to. It's a split-second thought Emma has, one that she
has NO intention of acting on, and I think it really speaks to both her
mindset/inexperience with children as well as her frustration with this fussy,
screaming baby on a plane. I mean - we've all felt that frustration, right? Still…every
time I read it now I think of my adorable little son and it really bothers me.
Emma would NOT be my choice for a babysitter! ;)

5. Can
you give us an interesting fun fact or a few about By Blood?

The house Emma lives in for the
summer is the same I stayed in when I lived there - and yes, I had the same
closet-sized room (seriously, it was REALLY small).

All the pubs, museums, cookie
shops, etc., are all real places with their real names except for the Wisteria
Cafe. It's a real place, but I couldn't remember the name or find it online, so
I made one up!

And, here's a juicy one….Simon
looks exactly like a guy I had a crush on in grad school. But don't tell him I
said that! ;-) (this was pre-hubby and baby, of course!)

6. And
now, before you go, how about a snippet from By Blood that is meant to intrigue
and tantalize us:

Here you go! :-)

Caught up in the moment, I ran my
hands down his chest, over the smooth, slightly damp cotton of his shirt, and
pulled him closer. I felt him resist, just for a second, and then his hands
slid to my back and suddenly we were pressed tight against each other.

The heat, the sweat, the pounding
music throbbing in my veins—I felt about thirty seconds away from bursting into
flame.

The music changed to a swing
number all technoed out. Josh’s hands dropped to his sides and he stepped away.
Oh come on. What had I done this time?

But instead of running off, he
grabbed my hand and spun me out, laughing. I twirled, skirt fanning, and bumped
into another warm body.

Simon.

Somehow, suddenly, his arms were
locked around me, and I was no longer holding Josh’s hand. We were almost the
same height so he didn’t have to lean down to bring his lips to my ear. “Meet
us Wednesday night,” he said, his breath cool against my hot skin. He held me
but didn’t move to the music; it felt strange, like we were hugging in the
middle of the dance floor. But I didn’t pull away.

“Meet you where? For what?” I
asked, a little breathlessly.

“Come to the Wisteria. Eight
o’clock. And wear white.”

“A Druid ritual?” I thought of
the girls dancing in a circle, arms entwined. The freedom in Ash’s eyes.

“Do you want to see what we’re
all about?”

I stared into his shadowed eyes,
his face close enough to kiss. I could feel his body from my knees to my
breasts. His arms tightened, like he wanted me there, close to him.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Pawn (The Blackcoat Rebellion #1) by Aimee Carter

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Sorry I have been MIA on doing these posts but I have been trying to figure some stuff out and it has kept me preoccupied. Any-who, from the moment I read the synopsis for this book I was intrigued by it. It looks like it is going to be another winner for Aimee Carter. I absolutely loved her Goddess Test series and I know I will enjoy this one as well.

Expected Publication Date: November 23, 2013

Synopsis:(Taken from Goodreads)

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Synopsis:Rook is chasing her dream—film school and a chance at a life beyond the one she left behind six months ago. But before she can become the girl she wants to be, she must deal with the girl she left behind.

Ronin is also chasing his dream—a family of his own and a life away from erotic modeling. And he too, has a past he’s trying to forget. A past that makes Rook question everything about their life together.

Lies, secrets, and shocking truths will rock the foundation Rook and Ronin have built. Can they put the past behind them and move forward together? Or is this just another too good to be true relationship that will crash and burn in the end?

J. A. Huss likes to write new adult books that make you think and keep you guessing. Her favorite genre to read is space opera, but since practically no one reads those books, she writes new adult science fiction, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and books about Junco (who refuses to be saddled with a label).

She has an undergraduate degree in horses, (yes, really–Thank you, Colorado State University) and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida. She used to have a job driving around Colorado doing pretty much nothing but shooting the breeze with farmers, but now she just writes, runs the New Adult Addiction and Clean Teen Reads Book Blogs, and runs an online science classroom for homeschoolers.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Emma, Tyler and Shane have been best friends since they were kids. Along with their college addition, Rob, the four friends have an exciting life in NYC. In fact, Emma Sloan appears to have it all.

Despite being happy with her current situation, a big family announcement leaves Emma questioning whether she is truly content with her life. With her thirtieth birthday fast approaching she vows to find her ‘perfect’ man any way she can. But Emma will soon discover that the path of true love never runs smoothly and that sometimes, instead of chasing love, you have to wait for love to find you…

A.E. Woodward lives in Vacationland with her husband and two children. Between her day job and the pursuance of a master’s degree, she wrote her first novel. Her novel Imperfectly Perfect, will be the first book in A Series of Imperfections.

Imperfectly Perfect was a light read focused on a woman’s journey, changing her life to find her perfect person. We start off with Emma living with ‘her boys’, care free. When Emma is told some news about her sister, she is forced to re-examine everything she thought made her happy.

I really liked this book. I found that I could really identify with Emma as I am currently going through some of the same issues as her. Emma is smart and successful but I didn’t really like her calling women bimbos by just looking at them with basically no justification.

I have to say what made the book for me, was the boys: Shane, Tyler and Rob. I wish I had guy friends like them. No matter what, they have each other’s back through thick and thin. They also provided a lot of comic relief which definitely made the book all that more enjoyable.

The author’s writing style was extremely easy to read and I found that it flowed really well. I finished the last half of the book in one sitting because the writing style was so pleasant and of course I wanted to know what was going to happen.I really liked how the book played on the ‘perfect’ factor. Instead of finding the perfect person (this person doesn’t exist), you have to find the perfect person for you. This is a motto I have had had for myself for many years, something I always tell my friends.

I also really liked that the book was both in Emma’s and Shane’s POV. You found out a lot about what Shane went through when they weren’t speaking. I felt bad for the guy but I thought he could of spoke up sooner about his feelings for Emma; it definitely could have saved a lot of heartache for the both of them.

I am definitely looking forward to reading the other books in the series which will feature the other boys.

Monday, September 2, 2013

For baseball superstar Garrett Donovan, his contract with the New York Empire baseball team meant he’d finally have the means to secure a future for his family. He should focus on that…not on the sassy, beautiful Jessa Montgomery — or what she looks like naked. Getting involved with the daughter of the Empire’s owner would be career suicide. Jessa is a distraction he can’t afford.Her father had warned her never to get involved with his athletes, so his request that she keep an eye on his new star player came straight out of left field. The last thing Jessa needs is another spoiled, egotistical ball player to deal with. But Garrett is none of those things. His no-nonsense attitude and smooth Southern charm make her blood burn and her knees weak. Giving into temptation, she is consumed by the pleasure she finds in Garrett’s arms.Jessa wants to protect his career. Garrett won’t let anything get in the way of their passion.A passion that could cost him everything.

Parker Kincade is an award-winning erotic romance author of The Martin Family Series. Her first novel, One Night Stand, won the category of Best Erotic Romance in the Celtic Hearts Romance Writers Golden Claddagh contest and was named finalist in the Romance Writers of America/Passionate Ink Stroke of Midnight contest.Parker lives in the southern United States with her husband, children and beloved boxer sidekick. She loves reading, playing golf, spending time with her family and friends, ice cream from the ice cream truck, taking her dog to the park and watching old musicals.

In honor of
my latest release, Spring Training, I
decided to come up with a list of my favorite baseball movies … and I’ve
enlisted the help of Garrett Donovan, current badass rookie for the New York
Empire ball club, and Spring Training’s
leading man.

I want you
all to know that Garrett and I had a blast arguing about which movies to list,
but we both agree that Field of Dreams is our favorite. Garrett because he
loves baseball, and me because I have a thing for Kevin Costner.

Here they
are! Parker and Garrett’s Top Ten Baseball Movies

1. Field of
Dreams

2. Bull
Durham

3. Moneyball

4. The
Sandlot

5. For Love
of the Game

6. The Pride
of the Yankees

7. Major
League

8. Summer
Catch (Garrett wants it on the record that he DIDN’T vote for this movie…)

The Stark trilogy books were on sale so I decided to get them. I have read the first book Release Me so far and it is really good. I am now reading Claim Me and I am really enjoying it. My review for Release Me will be up on the blog in the next couple of weeks.

I also got Freeing for review. I read Fading which is the first book and it was amazing. I am looking forward to reading Freeing.